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This is contained in a statement by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun on Monday in Ilorin.
“The government therefore directs school children and teachers in the affected schools to remain at home until the contrary is announced.
“The government remains committed to fairness, pluralism, and respect for the law and rights of every citizen at all times,” she said.
Recall that on Sunday, the Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church Worldwide in Kwara on rejected the use of Hijab by female students at the Cherubim and Seraphim College.
The Chairman and Spiritual Father of the church, Most Reverend Samuel Abidoye, made the church’s position known to newsmen.
According to Abidoye, the movement is against the use of the Muslim veil by female students of the school since the church would be responsible for the appointment of the management of the institution and decide on dress code and use of beret.
The Secretary of Ilorin District headquarters of the movement, Mr. Samson Ibidoja, also stressed that the maintenance of the school has been the sole responsibility of the church.
He said the Cherubim and Seraphim College at Sabo-oke in llorin owned by Seraphim Church Worldwide was established in 1969 to take care of the educational development of children.
The church therefore advised the government to revisit its decision on the matter to forestall unnecessary trespass capable of leading to breakdown of law and order in any part of the state.
Reacting, the Chairman of Muslim Stakeholders in Kwara, Prof. Hamzat AbdulRaheem, said the state government decision on the use of Hijab by female students in all schools must be respected to allow peace continue to reign in the state.
“What the Christian brothers and sisters are carrying to the whole world is false, there are many Christian private schools in the state that Muslims can’t enforce the use of Hijab, but that of public schools is different,” he said.
He said the Cherubim and Seraphim College like some schools established by some Muslim organisations are not owned solely by Missions that established them and could not dictate how the schools must be administered.
AbdulRaheem however advised the Cherubim and Seraphim Church to either abide with the state government decision on the use of Hijab by female students or request for the taking over of the school with the sharing of its assets and liabilities.
Ten schools were on Feb.19, closed down temporarily over Hijab controversy in the state.
A committee was set up by the government to find a solution to the issue.
However, on Feb. 26, the state government announced March 8, for the reopening of all the closed schools, after stakeholders agreed in a meeting held that Hijab be accepted as part of school uniform in schools.
The affected schools are C&S College Sabo Oke, St. Anthony Secondary School, Offa Road, ECWA School, Oja Iya, Surulere Baptist Secondary School and Bishop Smith Secondary School, Agba Dam.
Other schools are CAC Secondary School Asa Dam road, St. Barnabas Secondary School Sabo Oke, St. John School Maraba, St. Williams Secondary School Taiwo Isale, and St. James Secondary School Maraba. (NAN)